Over the next three weeks, I want to tell you about George Musgrove and his two sons, Gerald and Godfrey. All three died serving their country between 1942 and 1945 with George being the last to die.

George Henry Musgrove was born in September 1896, in Southam Street which was one of the poorest streets in the slums of London. He was one of my birth grandfather's six brothers.

His elder brothers were either working or in the Army so it seems probable that his Mother, Hannah, couldn't afford to have him living at home which is why he was in the Kensington and Chelsea Workhouse School on the 1911 census. His granddaughter was told by her mother that he, and two of his brothers, ran away from home to join the Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry (KOYLI).

George Musgrove

He went to France aged 19 on 30th December 1915. His medal card suggests he won the Military Medal at some point, although details are non-existent. George lost his leg near Ovillers during a battle on the Somme, which began on 1st July 1916. He was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal and the citation said :

10489 L/Cpl G.MusgroveFor conspicuous gallantry and resource. When the right flank of the battalion was held up and all the officers had become casualties. He rallied about 20 men of various battalions under heavy fire, and with great bravery led them to renew the attack (London Gazette 22nd September 1916)

Having lost a leg he was shipped home and, for him, the War was over. He became a student in the Government Trade School and eventually took a job with the Inland Revenue. From there he worked his way to becoming an accountant.

He married Theresa Hughes in May 1919 at Our Lady of Willesden Church, Harlesden and they had two sons Gerald (1920) and Godfrey, better known as Bobby, (1922) and later, a daughter.

George, Bobby and Gerald Musgrove

He joined up again for WW2 and was a Major in the Royal Army Pay Corps (RAPC), which was responsible for administering all financial matters in the British Army.

It must have been devastating for him to learn that both his two sons had died, Gerald in 1942 and Bobby in 1944. Their stories will follow in the next two weeks.

George died, aged just 48, on 10th June 1945 after catching pneumonia following an operation for a duodenal ulcer. He is commemorated on the CWGC memorial at Wendover, as are his two sons.

WW1 Medal Card

A devoted husband and father, happy have we met, happy have we been and happy meet again. R.I.P.